The Chicago Bears keep winning, and the national media keeps taking notice.
After a dramatic 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9, the Bears climbed one spot to No. 4 in ESPN's Week 10 NFL Power Rankings, up from No. 5 last week.
Chicago enters its bye week with a 7-2 record and a four-game winning streak. But despite the impressive start, ESPN's Courtney Cronin believes the Bears' biggest challenge remains ahead.
Cronin dubbed Chicago's Week 16 Christmas Day matchup against the Green Bay Packers as the team's most important game of the second half.
"The Bears need to gain ground in their division after early losses to the Vikings and Packers," Cronin wrote. "Chicago's home rematch with Green Bay on Christmas Day carries significant tiebreaker implications and is the first of three straight NFC North games to end the regular season. The Bears will be in good position to defend their division title if they can pick up two NFC North wins over their next six games, beginning with the Lions on Thanksgiving before the Dec. 25 matchup with the Packers."
Let's not focus on that, for now. There's plenty to feel good about heading into the bye.
Ben Johnson's Bears have shown this year that they can win in different ways, including Sunday's victory despite four Caleb Williams interceptions and five total turnovers.
The addition of Jeffery Simmons has also given Chicago's defense a legitimate difference-maker along the defensive line.
Still, ESPN's assessment highlights an important reality.
The Bears have established themselves as one of the NFL's best teams. Now they need to prove they can beat their division rivals.
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